New research has revealed that the UK is the sixth smartest country in the world, with Lancashire one of the smartest counties in the whole of England.

Based on factors such as A-level results, education expenditure, Ofsted ratings and students in higher education, the research, carried out by online supplement providers, Supplement Place revealed that Lancashire is the second smartest region in the the country.

The Westmorland Gazette:

The list of top 10 smartest English authorities are as follows, and from left to right reads; rank; local authority; students achieving at least two A-levels or equivalent; average point score at A level or equivalent; annual education expenditure; schools rated as 'outstanding' by Ofsted; % of students continuing to higher education; and overall score

  1. Trafford: 92.8% / 39.14 / £170,273,000 / 40% / 59% / 7.43
  2. Lancashire: 83.5% / 34.43 / £1,017,953,000 / 22% / 54% / 7.21
  3. Newham: 85.5% / 36.47 / £330,280,000 / 35% / 62% / 7.08
  4. Hertfordshire: 90.5% / 34.45 / £765,164,000 / 25% / 54% / 7.07
  5. Barnet: 90.3% / 35.99 / £282,013,000 / 37% / 59% / 7.00
  6. Sutton: 91.8% / 37.88 / £121,783,000 / 33% / 59% / 6.93
  7. Buckinghamshire: 93.9% / 37.37 / £389,042,000 / 23% / 54% / 6.89
  8. Reading: 92.3% / 38.31 / £158,666,000 / 25% / 59% / 6.85
  9. Harrow: 90.4% / 33.15 / £163,130,000 / 44% / 63% / 6.75
  10. Hampshire 83.8% / 34.78 / £979,463,000 / 22% / 42% / 6.63 

The smartest English authority, according to the research, is Trafford in Greater Manchester with an overall score of 7.43 out of ten.

This borough scored impressively on a number of factors, with a higher rate of 16-18-year-olds going on to higher education than anywhere else in the country (59%), as well as the third-highest rate of students achieving at least two A-levels (92.8%).

In second place is Lancashire, largely due to the fact that Lancashire County Council had the highest spending on education, and was the only area with an expenditure of over £1billion.

Lancashire also had a high number of students achieving at least two A-levels (83.5%).

Newham, in London, ranked 3rd with a score of 7.08 out of 10.

Newham had the fourth-highest number of sixth-form level students continuing on to higher education (62%), with high levels of those students also achieving at least two A-levels or equivalent (85.5%).

You can view the research in full by clicking here.